Modern warfare has shifted as the convergence of low-cost drones and advanced missile systems compels militaries to rethink operational and economic models, with cost, scale and integration emerging as defining factors.
The assessment has emerged from a March 19 virtual defence briefing hosted by the Centre for European Policy Analysis, where experts examined lessons from tensions involving the United States, Israel and Iran.
A former senior NATO defence investment official and Senior Fellow at CEPA, Gordon “Skip” Davis Jr., said modern conflict is moving toward “precision at scale,” combining high-end missile systems with large volumes of inexpensive, expendable drones to generate layered battlefield pressure.
He warned that the model allows less advanced actors to impose operational stress and financial strain on modern militaries, as costly air defence interceptors are increasingly deployed against low-cost aerial threats, raising concerns over sustainability in prolonged conflicts.
A Defence Technology Policy Specialist and former U.S. National Security Council official, Jason Israel, identified interoperability gaps as a critical weakness, noting that the absence of unified software and integrated command-and-control systems limits the effectiveness of large-scale drone operations, particularly within alliance frameworks.
Transatlantic defence analyst Federico Borsari said technological capability alone is insufficient, stressing that effectiveness depends on the alignment of technology, tactics and training within a coherent operational doctrine.
The briefing also highlighted an expanded battlespace, with civilian infrastructure, including energy, transport and communications systems, becoming increasingly integrated into military targeting considerations.
Experts noted that the proliferation of low-cost drone technologies is lowering barriers to entry for both state and non-state actors, increasing exposure for regions with limited air defence capacity and weak system integration.
The session concluded that strategic advantage is shifting from platform dominance to system resilience, with the ability to scale production, integrate technologies and sustain operations under cost pressure emerging as the new benchmark for modern militaries.